Eugene F. Stoermer (March 7, 1934February 17, 2012) was a leading researcher in
diatom
A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma'') is any member of a large group comprising several Genus, genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's B ...
s, with a special emphasis on freshwater species of the North American
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...
. He was a professor of biology at the
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Biography
His Bachelor of Science degree was obtained in 1958 and his Doctor of Biological Science in 1963, both from
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricult ...
. His doctoral thesis was "Post-pleistocene diatoms from Lake West Okoboji, Iowa"
Stoermer originally coined and used the term ''
Anthropocene
''Anthropocene'' is a term that has been used to refer to the period of time during which human impact on the environment, humanity has become a planetary force of change. It appears in scientific and social discourse, especially with respect to ...
'' from the early 1980s to refer to the impact and evidence for the effects of human activity on the planet earth. The word was not used in general culture until it was popularized in 2000 by
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...
-winning
atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen
Paul Jozef Crutzen (; 3 December 1933 – 28 January 2021) was a Dutch meteorologist and atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric chemist. In 1995, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Mario Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland, Frank Sherw ...
and others who regard the influence of human behavior on Earth's atmosphere in recent centuries as so significant as to constitute a new
geological epoch.
He is the co-author with J. P. Smol of ''The Diatoms Applications for the Environmental and Earth Sciences.'' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ; According to
WorldCat
WorldCat is a union catalog that itemizes the collections of tens of thousands of institutions (mostly libraries), in many countries, that are current or past members of the OCLC global cooperative. It is operated by OCLC, Inc. Many of the O ...
, the book is held in 1262 libraries
In 2009, he received the honor of a
festschrift
In academia, a ''Festschrift'' (; plural, ''Festschriften'' ) is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during their lifetime. It generally takes the form of an edited volume, containing contributions from the h ...
, ''Diatom taxonomy, ultrastructure, and ecology : modern methods and timeless questions : a tribute to Eugene F. Stoermer''
[Stoermer, Eugene F., John Patrick Kociolek, Edward C. Theriot, and R. Jan Stevenson.'' Diatom Taxonomy, Ultrastructure, and Ecology: Modern Methods and Timeless Questions : a Tribute to Eugene F. Stoermer.'' Berlin: J. Cramer, 2009. ]
Named after him
Diatom genera —
Stoermeria J.P. Kociolek, L. Escobar & S. Richardon, 1996.
Diatom species:
*
Amphora stoermerii M. Edlund & Z. Levkov, 2009
*
Amphorotia stoermeri D.M. Williams & G. Reid, 2006
*
Colliculoamphora stoermeri G. Reid & D.M. Williams, 2009
*
Encyonema stoermeri S.A. Spaulding, J.R. Pool & S.I. Castro, 2010
*
Encyonopsis stoermeri H. Lange-Bertalot & D. Metzeltin, 2009
*
Frustulia stoermeri H. Lange-Bertalot & D. Metzeltin, 2009
*
Gomphonema stoermeri J.P. Kociolek & J.C. Kingston, 1999
*
Gomphosphenia stoermeri J.P. Kociolek & E.W. Thomas, 2009
*
Navicula stoermeri J.P. Kociolek & B. de Reviers, 1996
*
Neidium stoermeri E.W. Thomas & J.P. Kociolek, 2008
*
Pinnularia stoermeri D. Metzeltin & H. Lange-Bertalot, 2007
*
Surirella stoermerii R.L. Lowe, 1973
References
External links
Eugene F. Stoermer (1934—2012) — Obituary, 2012.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoermer, Eugene F
American phycologists
American limnologists
American ecologists
1934 births
2012 deaths
University of Michigan faculty
Presidents of the Phycological Society of America